The final game of Round 19 sees the Melbourne Storm attempt to keep their finals hopes alive as they host the Gold Coast Titans at AAMI Park on Sunday.

Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans

The Storm were thrashed 30-4 by the Sea Eagles most recently, which relegated them to 11th on the ladder and put their chances of making the post-season in jeopardy.

Off the back of a bye and with eight players returning from Origin or injury, they’ll be targeting this game as a major bounce-back opportunity.

The Titans have been poor in 2026, winning just twice on the road and four times overall. Last match, the 10th-placed Bulldogs put 30 points on them.

Leg 1 – Storm -16.5

Melbourne may not be the team everyone expected them to be this year, but they’re still a championship side that knows how to take an opportunity when it’s presented.

A home game against a struggling side, with near-perfection required across their remaining eight regular-season fixtures, is where the Storm step up.

Names like Jahrome Hughes and Nick Meaney being back in the run-on team is a huge boost to their attack, which should put a hefty scoreline on the Titans this Sunday.

Leg 2 – Over 47.5 Points Total

Five of the last seven meetings between these two have crossed the 47.5 points mark, while the two that didn’t weren’t far off either.

Expect to see plenty of tries from Melbourne’s end here that will knock off the lion’s share of this total.

The head-to-head has seen the Gold Coast sneak at least three tries in each of their last eight meetings with the Storm too, so they should contribute even in defeat.

Leg 3 – Sualauvi Fa’alogo to Score

Fa’alogo is made for these kinds of matches. The Storm fullback has 13 tries from 16 matches this season and leads his team for line breaks.

Any time Melbourne have scored 40+ points in 2026, Fa’alogo has picked up at least one try.

Against a Titans defence that’s leaked 387 points already this year, he’s likely to be a tryscorer yet again.

Same Game Multi

Storm -16.5 / Over 47.5 / Fa’alogo to Score = $5.10

Value Bet

Warbrick is Melbourne’s finishing machine, with 15 tries from 16 games in 2026, including one in each of their last four.

Crucially, the big winger has bagged three or more tries on two occasions already this season, in Round 16 against the Raiders and earlier in the year against the Cowboys in Round 4.

He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and in a match that should open up, he could have another hattrick coming his way.

Will Warbrick to Score 3 Tries @ $8.50

The Warriors are out for revenge when they head to Campbelltown to take on the Tigers in Round 19 of the NRL on Friday.

Wests Tigers vs New Zealand Warriors

Last time these two sides met, Wests came to Auckland and handed the Warriors their first loss of the season against all odds.

This time, New Zealand are again heavy favourites to win, sitting second on the ladder compared to the Tigers’ 12th.

Each enter off the back of a loss, with the hosts going down 24-10 to fellow cellar-dwellers the Dragons while the Warriors were pipped 26-24 in a top-four clash against the Dolphins before their bye last weekend.

Leg 1 – Warriors 13+

The expectation of a big home victory got to the Warriors in their first meeting with the Tigers this season, but that won’t be the case this time.

New Zealand are a more measured side who have their sights set on a top-two finish and will know that bagging these kinds of wins is critical.

They’ve got captain James Fisher-Harris as well as Leka Halasima back in the mix, and should put a big margin on a team that’s struggling to keep up with the competition’s worst sides at the moment.

Leg 2 – Over 46.5 Points Total

Points have flowed in the last five meetings between New Zealand and the Tigers, with an average total of 48 per match.

Considering the Warriors have scored the third-highest number of points in 2026 and the Tigers are leaking the third most, it’s hard to see this being a low-scoring game.

Leg 3 – Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to Score

With Dallin Watene-Zelezniak out of this one, Nicoll-Klokstad will see even more action than usual down the edge.

The Warriors’ winger picked up four tries against the Cowboys in Round 16 and dotted down again against the Dolphins for his eighth try of the season.

In good form and against one of the worst defensive teams, Nicoll-Klokstad scoring is a high probability.

Same Game Multi

Warriors 13+ / Over 46.5 / Nicoll-Klokstad to Score = $5.25

Value Bet

Big second-rower Halasima will be chomping at the bit this weekend, having been out of action since Round 13 with a hamstring injury.

He’ll be eager to make up for lost time, and has a good chance at adding to his five 2026 tries with his bustling ball-running and elite aerial game.

Halasima to Score @ $3.40

This weekend’s NRL action wraps up with a table-topping blockbuster, as the Knights host the Dolphins in Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.

Newcastle Knights vs Dolphins

The Knights and Dolphins are the two form teams of the competition right now.

Newcastle have won six of their last seven, while the Dolphins are on an eight-match heater. Both have 10 wins for the season and are second-equal overall on points, putting the Dolphins third on the ladder and the Knights fifth.

The hosts are without Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best due to Origin. The Dolphins lose six starters, including Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo and Isaiya Katoa.

Leg 1 – Knights 1-12

Form says the Dolphins win this, but team sheets point strongly towards the Knights.

The visitors have lost close to half of their run-on side thanks to Origin and injuries, which guts their otherwise red-hot attack.

They’ve an impressive unit and will still keep this one close, but Newcastle’s greater cohesion gives them the edge here.

Leg 2 – Under 50.5 Points Total

The Knights have been winning ugly in recent weeks and that’s likely what they do here as well.

They gritted out a 12-6 win over the Tigers last round and a tight one over the Eels the week before.

Without Best and Ponga, it’s hard to see them turning on much razzle dazzle in this one. Expect another scrappy effort that gets the job done.

Leg 3 – Jamayne Isaako to Score

Isaako will carry more of the attacking burden due to the Dolphins’ backline being stripped of its other stars.

The big winger has a track record of stepping up to the plate when needed, having scored five times already during this Origin period, and should do so again.

Same Game Multi

Knights 1-12 / Under 50.5 / Isaako to Score = $11.00

Value Bet

Young hasn’t crossed over since Round 11, making the Knights’ winger well overdue for a try.

He has a tendency to score his points in batches, with two hattricks and a further three braces already in 2026.

Given the Dolphins’ makeshift backline, backing him to collect another hattrick this round is excellent value.

Dominic Young to Score 3 Tries @ $12.00

Round 18 of the NRL sees an embattled Brisbane Broncos host the Cronulla Sharks at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday evening.

Brisbane Broncos vs Cronulla Sharks

The Broncos have all but kissed their title defence goodbye, with a seven-match losing streak relegating them to 13th on the table.

Their most recent defeat was an improved effort, leading the Roosters at half-time only to fall 24-18.

For the Sharks, they come into this clash off the back of a bye, before which they also lost to the Roosters. They’re tracking much better in 2026, sitting eighth with eight wins from 14.

Both sides have a raft of Origin absentees, with Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan out for Brisbane and Cronulla sans Addin Fonua-Blake and Briton Nikora.

Leg 1 – Broncos +6.5

Brisbane may be languishing low on the table, but they won’t keep losing forever.

This is a head-to-head they’ve historically dominated, winning 10 of their last 13. Broncos vs Sharks matches are typically tight too, with only one 10+ margin in the past decade.

Backing the Broncos to win outright is a risk, but they should cover the +6.5 spread at a minimum.

Leg 2 – Second Half Highest Scoring

Reshuffled sides usually take time to gel, and both teams have significant changes to their attacks courtesy of next week’s Origin.

Expect this one to be scrappy initially, before the points begin flowing in the second half.

Leg 3 – Ronaldo Mulitalo to Score

Mulitalo has only been back from injury for five games, yet he’s already picked up five tries in 2026.

The Sharks’ winger is a clinical finisher and should see ample opportunity against a Brisbane defence that’s leaked 413 points already this season.

Same Game Multi

Broncos +6.5 / Second Half Highest Scoring / Mulitalo to Score = $6.50

Value Bet

This column has been tipping the Broncos to break their drought for weeks now, and the same reasoning stands.

Despite poor form, they’re a quality side that will eventually put it together.

Given their rough run, there’s excellent value on Brisbane putting a few points on Cronulla in front of a home crowd.

Broncos to Win by 8+ @ $4.40

An abbreviated NRL Round 18 kicks off on Friday with the Panthers hosting the Rabbitohs at CommBank Stadium in Sydney.

Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs

Penrith sit top of the table while South Sydney are down at seventh, but the two sides have converse form in recent weeks.

The Panthers have suffered rare back-to-back defeats, falling to the Titans and Cowboys, before which they were on a seven-win streak.

For the Rabbitohs, it’s the opposite: two wins from their last two matches, preceded by a three-match losing run.

There are plenty of Origin absentees for this match, with Nathan Cleary, Isaiah Yeo, Isaiah Papali’i and Liam Martin out for Penrith, while Sydney are missing Cameron Murray as well as Latrell Mitchell and Alex Johnston to injury.

Leg 1 – Panthers -3.5

Two losses in a row is rare for the Panthers; three is almost unheard of.

There’s a reason they’ve won four of the last five titles. Penrith know how to turn things around and scratch their way through this stage of the season.

Though the hosts are also without plenty of stars, the Rabbitohs will severely miss the direction of Murray and the finishing of Johnston.

Expect the Panthers to put them away comfortably in front of a home crowd.

Leg 2 – Under 46.5 Points Total

Penrith have the best defence in the NRL with just 209 points conceded across 15 games, an average of just under 14 per game.

Without Cleary at the helm and the go-forward of Yeo, Papali’i and Martin, they’ll struggle to pile the points on South Sydney.

The result is this should be a gritty, low-scoring affair.

Leg 3 – Thomas Jenkins to Score

One player who hasn’t been shy of points this season is Jenkins, who again crossed twice last week to take his 2026 tally to 22 tries.

He’s simply too clinical and core to Penrith’s attack to leave off any bet sheet.

Same Game Multi

Panthers -3.5 / Under 46.5 / Jenkins to Score = $5.25

Value Bet

Walker has a habit of stepping up in big games, which is what the Rabbitohs’ five-eighth will need to do in this clash.

Absent Mitchell, Murray and Johnston, Walker will know that a big shift is required if his side are to prevail.

Expect him to play with a lot more ball in hand, making him a good chance at crossing over, as he did twice last round against the Eels.

Cody Walker to Score @ $3.50

A struggling Tigers outfit head to Newcastle to take on the high-flying Knights in Round 17 of the NRL this Sunday.

Newcastle Knights vs Wests Tigers

Newcastle are having one of their best starts to a season in recent memory, winning nine of their first 14 matches for fifth on the table.

They’re in particularly good nick this month, having won five of their last six including a gritty victory over the Dragons most recently.

The same can’t be said for the Tigers, who have slipped to 10th on the ladder after losing five of their last seven.

Leg 1 – Knights Win Both Halves

With the Knights’ spine at full strength thanks to the return of Kalyn Ponga from Origin duties, it’s hard to see them not dominating from start to finish here.

They’ll be set on revenge after slipping to a heavy defeat against the Tigers in Round 6, so should start strong.

Come the second half, Newcastle’s bench is stronger and Wests have a track record of fading, so a big finish is likely.

Leg 2 – Over 50.5 Points Total

The Knights have racked up plenty of points recently, scoring just shy of 34 points per match on average across their last six.

Wests, meanwhile, have the third-worst defence in the competition, conceding 417 points so far this season, close to 30 per game.

Their last meeting produced 64 points, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to see that mark hit again on Sunday.

Leg 3 – Dom Young to Score

Young has 14 tries for the Knights this season, taking his career tally to 87 NRL tries.

The winger is unlucky to have not scored in his past three matches, with five line breaks, 15 tackle breaks and two try assists to his name.

Expect him to add to his try tally on Sunday though, given the Tigers’ leaky edge defence.

Same Game Multi

Knights Win Both Halves / Over 50.5 / Young to Score = $5.80

Value Bet

Four of the Tigers’ last five losses have been blowouts, with margins of 68, 28, 28 and 42.

Even their most recent loss, their best effort in a losing cause since mid-April, was a 14-point defeat.

Combine this with Newcastle’s red-hot attack, and the hosts covering a -16.5 margin is a strong value bet.

Knights -16.5 @ $3.20

The Broncos attempt to revive their NRL season when they host the Roosters at Suncorp on Friday night.

Brisbane Broncos vs Sydney Roosters

It’s been grim going for the defending champions, with just five wins from 14 matches for Brisbane in 2026 and six straight losses coming into Round 17.

They’re racked by injuries, notably Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam and Patrick Carrigan, all core members of their spine.

Sydney have issues of their own, despite sitting fourth on the table. After winning six straight from late March to early May, they’ve now lost three of their last five.

Last week was a good settler though, winning 27-8 against fellow top-four contenders the Sharks.

Leg 1 – Roosters -6.5

Not only are the Roosters in far better shape than Brisbane this season, but they’ve also had the wood over them in the head-to-head and at this venue.

Sydney have won nine of the last 12 matches between these sides, including their Round 9 meeting this year 38-24, and the last five at Suncorp.

The Roosters have good reason to get up for this one too, with James Tedesco playing his 200th.

Leg 2 – Under 49.5 Points Total

Brisbane have struggled to score this season, averaging just 14.2 points per game over their last five.

The Roosters haven’t been great on this front either, with their last five matches seeing an average score of 15.8.

Leg 3 – Mark Nawaqanitawase to Score

Nawaqanitawase is red-hot at the moment, with 12 tries in 2026, five of which have come in his last two games.

The Roosters’ winger also picked up an Origin double earlier this month.

Running against a defence that is heavily reshuffled and has already conceded 389 points this season, back Nawaqanitawase to find a way over again.

Same Game Multi

Roosters -6.5 / Under 49.5 / Nawaqanitawase to Score = $5.00

Value Bet

A club of Brisbane’s calibre doesn’t stay down forever. They will inevitably snap their losing streak.

With Reece Walsh, Kotoni Staggs and Payne Haas back from Origin, a home crowd and zero expectation that they come away victorious on Friday night, this is as good a time as any to do so.

Broncos 13+ @ $6.50

The Eels and Rabbitohs get Round 17 of the NRL underway at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta this Thursday.

Parramatta Eels vs South Sydney Rabbitohs

South Sydney come into this clash as the much higher-ranked side, sitting 7th on the ladder to the Eels’ 14th.

Both sides have been mercurial in 2026, however. The Rabbitohs won big last week against the Broncos yet lost three straight before that. Parramatta were also victorious, but haven’t claimed consecutive wins since Round 3.

The Rabbitohs have dominated this head-to-head, winning nine of the last 10 including the last three.

Leg 1 – Eels +6.5

Parramatta have been competitive in their recent defeats, losing by six to the Knights and two to the Bulldogs.

While South Sydney should have enough on attack to get the job done here, don’t expect a one-sided match.

A strong last month, plus the return of Mitchell Moses, will make the Eels a tough out here.

Leg 2 – Under 49.5 Points Total

The Eels have conceded just 12 and 14 points in their last two matches, while last round the Rabbitohs leaked just six.

Expect a gritty armwrestle that falls under the line, as have the two most recent head-to-heads between these sides.

Leg 3 – Alex Johnston to Score

Johnston has been a try-scoring machine in 2026, collecting 19 already from just 12 games.

Round 14 was the first match he played and failed to cross over, though he promptly made amends by scoring four against the Broncos in Round 15.

Against a team like the Eels, far from the competition’s best defence despite their recent heroics, the Rabbitohs’ winger should add to his tally.

Same Game Multi

Eels +6.5 / Under 49.5 / Johnston to Score = $7.25

Value Bet

The Rabbitohs have only won twice since April, and much of their ladder position is due to early season form.

While they looked exceptional against the Broncos, there’s no denying they’ve been one of this season’s more mercurial sides.

Another dip isn’t out of the question, particularly against a team playing at home, who are off the back of a victory, with a returning Origin star.

Eels 1-12 @ $3.75

Two teams locked on 20 points clash to round out NRL Round 16 this Sunday, with the Roosters hosting the Sharks at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla Sharks

While both sides have near-identical records heading into this clash, their form couldn’t be more different.

The Sharks are surging, edging a gritty one against the Warriors last week to extend their winning streak to four in a row.

The Roosters, meanwhile, are floundering after their own mid-season string of victories. They’ve now got just one win from their last four matches, and were thrashed 48-10 by the Dolphins last weekend.

Each club welcomes back a handful of Origin players, with the Roosters hoping the likes of James Tedesco and Mark Nawaqanitawase can inject some spark into their attack.

Leg 1 – Sharks +4.5

The value of Cronulla’s momentum is being underestimated heading into this clash.

Their win last round was ugly, but will have given them plenty of confidence that they can get the job done on the road, particularly with big names like Addin Fonua-Blake back in their line-up.

The Roosters may get some star-power back from Origin, but those are players who just emptied the tank in a losing cause on Wednesday night.

At the very least this should be a close affair, if not a Sharks win outright.

Leg 2 – Over 46.5 Points Total

These teams have a history of producing high-scoring matches.

Two months ago, they combined for 56 points at Optus Stadium, while three of the four before that exceeded 46.5 points too.

A few tired bodies from Origin will open up defensive holes, so expect this trend to continue.

Leg 3 – Nawaqanitawase to Score

Nawaqanitawase is in searing form, bagging two screamers against Queensland in Origin Game 2, one of which he had absolutely no right to score.

The Roosters’ winger has been crossing over regularly in the NRL too, with seven tries in his last four matches.

It’s hard to see him staying off the scoreboard in this one.

Same Game Multi

Sharks +4.5 / Over 46.5 / Nawaqanitawase to Score = $4.80

Value Bet

There’s simply too much value in this market to avoid getting involved for a small stake.

Cronulla should start the faster of the two sides, with less Origin hangover in their squad and more confidence on the field.

If they get to half-time ahead, that’s when doubt will creep into the Roosters’ camp and the Sharks should manage to close the game out as well.

Sharks Win Both Halves @ $5.60

The Knights look to solidify their place in the top eight when they take on cellar-dwellers St George Illawarra in Newcastle on Friday night.

Newcastle Knights vs St George Illawarra Dragons

Newcastle come into this match off the back of a bye, before which they lost a close one to the Melbourne Storm.

They’ll still be pleased with their recent form overall, having won four in a row prior to that and climbed to seventh on the ladder.

No such feelings for the Dragons, who have just one win from their last 17 matches in the NRL. Most recently they were put away 34-12, and also had a bye last week.

Leg 1 – Knights 13+

These two sides met in early May and the result was a 44-10 hammering, where the Knights raced out to a 32-0 half-time lead.

Little has shifted for either club over the last six weeks, so a similar result can be expected.

The Dragons still have the most porous defence in the competition, while Newcastle have continued to sharpen their attack and improve since then.

Leg 2 – Over 49.5 Points Total

This is a match that screams points, and it’s not just because their last meeting produced 54 of them.

The Knights have scored an average of 36 points a game over their last five outings, while the Dragons have leaked 28 or more points in all but two fixtures this season.

Pair these two trends, and a high-scoring encounter beckons.

Leg 3 – Fletcher Sharpe to Score

In a one-sided match like this, players who see plenty of ball are a good bet to score opportunistic tries, particularly when they have the pace of Sharpe.

Expect the Knights’ five-eighth to run himself in during the latter stages of the match, as the Dragons attempt to shut down Newcastle’s more high-profile backline threats.

Same Game Multi

Knights 13+ / Over 49.5 / Sharpe to Score = $5.50

Value Bet

Young has two hat-tricks already in 2026, against the Bulldogs in Round 4 and the Titans in Round 11.

The last time these teams met, he nearly picked up another, ending on two tries.

Facing the weakest edge defence in the competition, Young should finish off plenty of the Knights’ attack.

Dominic Young to Score 3 Tries @ $9.00